Mumbai college bans torn jeans, t-shirts days after Bombay HC rejects plea against Hijab ban: ’What problem they have…’

A Mumbai college has implemented a new dress code for students, prohibiting wearing ripped or torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing attire, and jerseys. 

The decision by the Acharya Marathe College in Chembur comes days after the Bombay High Court dismissed a student plea challenging the institute's ban on wearing Hijab. 

According to The Indian Express, students wearing jeans and T-shirts were denied entry to the college campuses on Monday.

Recently, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition filed by college students challenging the institution's dress code implemented last year.

The previous dress code issued by the Mumbai college stipulated that burqas, niqabs, hijabs, or any religious identifiers such as badges, caps, or stoles will not be permitted inside the college.

The college's principal, Dr. Vidyagauri Lele, told The Indian Express that students were informed of the dress code at the time of admissions, and she cannot fathom why they should raise concerns about it now.

“Out of 365 days of the year, students hardly have to be in college for 120-130 days. What problem should they have to adhere to a dress code for these days?” she asked.

Acharya Marathe College's new dress code

According to a report published by The Indian Express, a college notice titled “dress code and other rules”, dated June 27, and signed by the college principal, Dr. Vidyagauri Lele, stated:

-Torn jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses and jerseys are not allowed.

-Students should wear (a) formal and decent dress while on campus.

-They can wear a half-shirt or full-shirt and trousers.

-Girls can wear any Indian or Western outfit.

-Students shall not wear any dress which shows religion or cultural disparity.

-Naqab, hijab, burkha, stole, cap, badge, etc. shall be removed by going to common rooms on the ground floor and then only they can move throughout the college campus.

The principal revealed to The Indian Express that the reason for the renewed dress code for the students in the Mumbai college is an effort by the college administration to ‘prepare them to be ready for the corporate world’.

During the previous academic session, the college implemented uniforms for junior college students, including prohibiting hijabs and other religious symbols. Students had to remove their hijabs or niqabs upon entering the college premises at a designated location. Following this policy change, nine students petitioned the Bombay High Court challenging the ban. However, the court dismissed their plea last month, citing that the decision was in the interest of broader academic concerns and did not infringe upon individual rights.